Gathering information
Ibiki walks into the mission office with newfound confidence. If he can set up Anko and Gai, which he just did, then he can probably deal with Hatake-san and Umino-san the same. He only needs to gather a bit more information. Like, is it really Umino-san that Hatake-san is interested in? And, does Umino-san feel the same?
No big deal. For these are comrades. And it is within the city walls. Even within the safe walls of the Mission Office so, what is the worst that could happen? The room is almost empty, even. Only Umino-san is there. And some other desk workers, but those are working in the back room, organizing some files.
Ibiki walks towards Umino-san’s desk, and clears his throat.
Umino-san look up. He smiles big, and blushes a little, before moving an index finger over the scar on his nose. “Hello, Morino-sama,” he speaks softly.
“There is no need to add sama to my name,” Ibiki says. He adds a little smile to his sentence. It makes him more approachable.
Umino-san looks surprised. His mouth is slightly ajar and his eyes are wide open. “Are you sure? Should I call you, Morino-san then?” The blush increases a tiny bit.
“You may also call me Ibiki, if you want. I don’t mind.” Ibiki feels a strange, tightening sensation around his chest. He can’t place it. It feels good and unfamiliar at the same time.
“Then, call me, Iruka, please.” Iruka is now fully blushing. He hides his head by looking down at his desk. His hands move over each other and he twiddles on the desk. “Is there something you wanted to ask me?” He keeps his head down.
“Yes,” Ibiki answers. Relief fills his body. He is back on track, on his self proclaimed mission. “I want to know if somebody caught your interest.” He nods to himself. The way he phrased that sentence is gold. He is good. There is a reason why he is the Head of Interrogation unit. And torture, but he is not using that right now.
Iruka snaps his head up. His cheek are somehow even redder than before. “You know,” he whispers. His hands move up and he leans back in his chair. “That is why you want me to drop the suffix.” He shakes his head, with his hands holding it.
Ibiki stares. There is not much else he can do. The Chuunin in front of him is on the verge of breakdown, it seems. Blushing, shaking, whisper yelling of some sort. Ibiki has no idea what is going on, but something is not right.
“I am sorry, Morino-sama. Morino-san. I mean, Ibiki-san. Ibiki.” Iruka groans and drops his head onto the table. “I just can’t help it.”
Ibiki blinks. Should he give the man a pat on his head? Maybe a pat on his shoulder? Or, maybe not. A pat is a bit intimate. He doesn’t want to scare the Chuunin. He is the Head of the Torture department as well and that is a bit scary.
“It’s just. I mean. You are…big and strong…You know, so I know. But still, I am sorry.” The Chuunin shakes his head and straightens his back. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to act like this in front of you. But the idea that anybody knows, even you, especially you.” Iruka bites his lip.
Ibiki chuckles. “I mean, it is me, there is not a whole lot that is a secret for me.” Although he doesn’t get what is going on at the moment.
Iruka sighs, shrugs and nods. “True to that.”
Ibiki clears his throat. “But, about Hatake-san…”
Iruka widens his eyes again, shoves his chair back and tumbles down.
Ibiki blinks. He puts his hands on the desk and leans over it, looking at the mess of limbs that lies on the floor. “Are you alright?” he asks.
Iruka scrambles to get up. He doesn’t answer. “Don’t tell me, you also know about... Don’t…” He rises to his feet. His ponytail is halfway done and his clothing is somehow a mess. “Don’t tell me, he, no, nononono.” He pulls at his clothing, and hair, and places the chair in the correct position. “I mean, of course you know. About both.” He turns around.
Ibiki raises one eyebrow and tilts his head. The word ‘both’ seems very important. He hums.
Iruka snaps his head at him. “You aren’t, irritated or something?” he asks.
Ibiki shrugs. “Why would I be?” he asks. He turns around, fully intending to leave Iruka to himself, to muse about all he has heard in the previous moment, only to get caught in the stare of the one Shinobi he was actually avoiding for a bit.
“Because, well, being interested in two, wanting them, it is greedy, isn’t it?” Iruka’s reply is soft, but clear. So clear, even Hatake-san must’ve heard it, from his place near the window.
“If those two share the same interest, it’s a situation of ‘the more the merrier’,” Ibiki says. He glances over his shoulder. “And, you can have me, if you wish.”
Iruka stares at him. Again, with his mouth slightly ajar and his eyes wide open. The blush is back in full force and the rest of his body is unmoving. Except his head. His head is slowly nodding it seems. Though the pace is improving in pace.
“I’m heading out now,” Ibiki says. He turns his head back and stares at Hatake-san. “I wonder what I am going to find in my office.” Or better, who.